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Silver Ferns beat Malawi to take series

The Silver Ferns have clinched their netball series against Malawi, but needed to quell some persistent resistance before closing out a 68-49 win in Napier.

The result gave New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead with the third and final Test to come in Hamilton on Thursday night.

The home side led from virtually the start at Pettigrew Green Arena and were never under threat on the scoreboard.

But, with coach Waimarama Taumaunu continuing to try out different combinations, their efforts were hampered by errors and a lack of fluency in patches.

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Malawi, for their part, showed some sharp passing skills and plenty of athleticism.

The Queens won the third quarter 16-14 to trail by 48-38, but New Zealand managed to make a spurt at the end to open out the score.

Skipper Casey Kopua admitted that the Silver Ferns weren't as consistent as they would have liked, but also felt they did show what they were capable of at times.

She agreed that the changes to the starting line-up did make finding a rhythm a bit more difficult.

"I think it does - just that time out on court," Kopua said.

"But we want to make each other look good, and we want to be there for each other and play good netball, and that's what we did in the end."

Malawi came away upbeat about the improvements they had made since the 70-32 defeat in the first Test Wellington three days ago, including their feeding in the shooting circle.

Skipper Caroline Mtukule said one of the advantages of a series was the ability to work on aspects of performance.

"I think the next game we play them, we will do better than this," she said.

Silver Ferns goal shoot Cathrine Latu finished with the excellent return of 46 goals from 48 attempts, but goal attack Maria Tutaia's numbers were down at 22 from 32.

For Malawi, Mwai Kumwenda backed up her leaping agility in the circle with 42 goals from 47 shots.

Both sides put out different starting sevens from the opening Test.

Taumaunu included all five players who had begun on the bench in Wellington and that meant a debut cap for mid-courter Katarina Cooper.

The 27-year-old's inclusion at centre meant the experienced Laura Langman was moved to the troublesome wing attack position.

Cooper got two quarters before, in a reshuffle Taumaunu said was planned, Joline Henry went to centre to allow Katrina Grant to come off the bench and get more time in the unfamiliar role of wing defence.

Malawi coach Griffin Saenda made three changes, including giving the goal attack bib to Jessie Mazengera, who impressed with her footwork and ball skills.

He went to leave the same line-up on court for the duration of the contest.